The Top 50 Things You’ll Hear A Southern Say

For those of you who may need a little help understanding the slang of a Southern, I made a list of the top 50 phrases and sayings, along with their translations.

1. Bless your heart.

My favorite saying. It is an empathetic phrase that is usually uttered when the speaker believes the recipient to be sweet but misguided or stupid. It can also be used if the speaker believes the recipient needs to grow up and deal with it when the speaker says it in a sarcastic tone.

2. Barking up the wrong tree.

Means being misguided or mistaken.

3. Aren’t you precious?

Mostly, this saying is used in a sarcastic tone in response to someone being offensive.

4. Britches.

Pants or underpants.

An example would be, “Your britches are too short, you can’t wear those.”

5. Coke.

Regardless if it’s Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, or another carbonated beverage, it’s called Coke here in the South.

6. Fixin’ to.

Simply means that you are about to do something.

7. Get the short end of the stick.

This phrase means that you got an unfair deal or cheated out of something.

8. Give Me Some Sugar.

Simply means kiss me.

9. Hissy Fit.

A hissy fit is a grown-up version of a temper tantrum that is as bad as one that a toddler would throw.

10. Hold Your Horses.

Be patient.

11. Holler.

When you say “holler,” you are letting the other person know something.

Example: Holler at me when you are ready to get something to eat.

12. If the creek don’t rise.

This saying simply means that if nothing bad happens, everything will go as planned.

13. You’re as slow as molasses in the wintertime.

This phrase means that you are being EXTRA slow.

14. Muddin’.

Off-road four-wheeler riding with the intention of getting mud everywhere and possibly losing control.

15. Skat Cat.

A phrase that can be used instead of saying “God bless you” when you sneeze.

16. There’s Not A Pot Too Crooked That A Lid Won’t Fit.

There is someone for everyone.

17. Pitcher.

We mostly mean a plastic container that holds sweet tea, not the position of a guy on the baseball team.

18. Reckon.

When you say “I reckon,” you believe that something is true.

19. Hoot With The Owls, Soar With The Eagles.

This simple phrase means that if you are going to stay up all night, you should be able to get up early in the morning.

20. Too Big For Your Britches.

Simply means that you take yourself too seriously.

21. Stompin’ Grounds.

Your hometown or where you grew up.

22. Back In The Day.

Back in the day could be a month ago, a year ago, or 20 years ago.

23. You’re the spitting image of (Insert Family Member).

Yes, I know I’m a spitting image of my mother. “Spitting image” simply means that you look just like someone.

24. “Darlin, Sugar, Sweetheart”

These words are simply terms of endearment.

25. Buggy.

A buggy is a cart/basket at the grocery store.

Example: Who wants to push the buggy?

26. Quit Crying, Or I Will Give You Something To Cry About.

This phrase simply means to quit crying, and if you didn’t, then more than likely, you got a spanking,

27. Where You Raised In A Barn?

If you are from the South, you have probably been asked this more than once, especially when you left a door open.

28. Close The Door. You Are Letting All The Good Air Out.

This southern heat is nothing to play with. It simply means to keep the door closed so the air (or heat if it’s winter) stays inside.

29. You Are Going To Make Me Lose My Religion.

When you say this phrase to someone, it more than likely means that the person has done something to irritate you or make you mad. Thank goodness Jesus saves.

Example: You are going to make me lose my religion.

30. You Look Like A Chicken With Your Head Cut Off.

This is said when you are running around like a crazy person. It can be said if you are looking for something that you are searching for or if you are just really busy.

31. Y’all.

The southern way to say “you all.”

32. You Can’t Carry A Tune In A Bucket.

If you’ve ever been told this, it means that you can’t sing.

33. Have Their Feathers Ruffled.

You normally have your “feathers ruffled” when you are pouting.

34. Two Peas In A Pod.

When you and someone else are “two peas in a pod,” it means that either you are almost always together or that you two are almost identical in the way you think and do things.

35. Well Butter My Butt And Call Me A Biscuit.

This saying can be used when you are surprised or excited.

36. Don’t Let The Door Hit Ya Where The Good Lord Split Ya.

When someone says this, they typically mean to get out and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

37. You’re As Good As Gold.

When you are “as good as gold,” it means that you are well-behaved and obedient.

38. It’s Raining Cats And Dogs Out There.

This simply means that the rain is really coming down hard.

39. I’m Full As A Tick.

This phrase means that you ate too much food.

40. I’m Sweating More Than A Sinner In Church.

When someone says this, it means that they are hot and sweating A LOT.

41. Pot Calling The Kettle Black.

This phrase is used when one person is guilty of the very same thing of which they accuse another person.

42. There’s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat.

It means that there is anyways more than one way to fix something.

43. Shut Yo’ Mouth.

Means to be quiet or hush up.

44. Whatever Floats Your Boat.

This saying means to do whatever you want to do.

45. Slap Yo’ Momma.

This phrase means that something is good.

Example: This BBQ is slap yo’ momma good.

46. She’s Like A Bull In A China Shop.

When you tell someone this phrase, you are telling them that they are clumsy or careless in the way that they move.

47. Cuttin’ A Rug.

Cuttin’ a rug is used to describe dancing.

Example: Let’s go cut a rug tonight.

48. Clicker.

A clicker is another name for a TV remote.

49. Slow Your Roll.

This also means to be patient.

50. You’re A Hot Mess.

When you tell someone that they are a “hot mess,” you are simply telling them that they don’t have it together.